He was detained on a European arrest warrant and now faces extradition to Belgium.

Kinahan had been released on bail by Spanish police last year after being arrested as part of an international investigation into a massive drug trafficking and money laundering empire.

Kinahan (54) is alleged to be the mastermind who set up one of the most sophisticated criminal operations encountered by police.

He was arrested in May 2008 by Belgian federal police and was subsequently jailed for four years.

Kinahan appealed the sentence and while awaiting the outcome moved to Spain, where he was alleged to be in control of a huge network linking the distribution of drugs to crime gangs in several countries.